Dec 11, 2023
Voice of Master Jingzong - Q and A about the Purpose of Life
淨宗之聲 - 人生目的問答
Q11: What is the meaning of human life? We know life is impermanent and reincarnation is suffering. Our objective is to cease reincarnating and aspire to be reborn in Amitabha’s Pure Land. This is the aim and the meaning of our present lives. What is the meaning of our lives once we arrive in the Land of Bliss?
Our lives there are dedicated to cultivating, realizing, and ultimately becoming a Buddha. What is the purpose of becoming a Buddha?
To deliver suffering sentient beings, so that all people can become Buddhas. If delivering sentient beings is the meaning for the existence of a Buddha, is there any need for a Buddha once all sentient beings have been delivered?
Do Buddhas pursue other interests in addition to teaching and delivering sentient beings? These are questions I have always deeply struggled with.
Answer to Q11:
I rarely encounter a person who worries about Buddhas and bodhisattvas. It is entirely a matter of speculation when someone tries to understand a Buddha’s wisdom with the limited capacity and afflictions of ordinary beings.
Buddhas and bodhisattvas do not think like that. They never tell beings in the Pure Land to pursue the activities, goals, or pleasures of those in the Saha world. Their teachings are for the benefit of beings of different aptitudes, not for themselves. It is nearly impossible for ordinary beings to fully understand the minds of Buddhas and advanced bodhisattvas. All we can do is practice and try our best to understand the teachings that Shakyamuni Buddha decided were best for ordinary beings like us.
You have asked many questions; but, you have not thought deeply enough about them. The Buddhas have taught us that life is impermanent, reincarnation is suffering, and our only true hope is to depart from the cycle of rebirth.
“The value and meaning of life” are not just a few random words taught by buddhas and bodhisattvas; but, are their response to each person’s innate capacities and the struggles in their daily lives. Doesn’t every person have the desire to escape from suffering and attain lasting happiness?
(to be continued tomorrow)
問(11) 成佛後存在的意義、目標與追求
人活著的意義是什麼?我們知道生命無常,輪迴是苦,我們的希望就是脫離輪迴,念佛求生淨土是我們的目標、人生的意義。
我們去極樂世界的意義又是什麼呢?修證佛果,最終成佛。那成佛的意義是什麼呢?度化苦難眾生,人人成佛。如果度眾生是佛存在的意義,那麼眾生度盡了,都成佛了,還需要佛嗎?佛還有存在的意義嗎?都成佛了,那還會再有目標與追求嗎?弟子總是有很深的糾結。
淨宗之聲:
這還真遇到一個替佛菩薩起煩惱的人,這完全都是以凡夫情見測度佛智。這完全是凡夫的煩惱見。
佛菩薩不是你這樣想的,也沒有說追求什麼人生的價值、目的、意義,這都是對凡夫而論,不是對佛說的,佛對機說法,是對凡夫來說的。你把對凡夫說的套在佛菩薩身上,那能套得上嗎?
你給的這些答案都是書上的文字,沒有結合自己的心性。“生命無常,輪迴是苦,我們脫離輪迴就有希望”,這些都對。“生命的價值和意義”,不是佛菩薩教這幾個字,它是我們日常生活中本能的反應。我們每一個人都願意離苦得樂,對不對?
Namo Amituofo!
